Marriage is an abomination at worst and an outdated religious rite at best. It encourages mutual parasitism and a sense of mutual obligation where there should be mutual affection. Half of all marriages fail. [1] Worse, marriage is a religious rite that has no place being supported by the federal government, or the states, and should be removed from the purview of both. Providing special rights to two married individuals and not for many or one individual potentially violates the establishment clause. [2] For centuries, religious moralists have used marriage as a tool of social oppression. [3] Why continue an outdated social institution? It would be like continuing ancient fertility rites ... which marriage arguably is.